46 On the Terrestrial Arrangements connected with 



For what reason was it that warm-blooded animals did not 

 make their appearance when such enormous quantities of food 

 lay ready for consumption? Because the colossal vegetables were 

 destined to purify the atmosphere, and to reduce the carbonic 

 acid gas to a certain minimum. (The average proportion in 

 which it occurs in our present atmosphere is nearly one in 2000 

 parts.) But they were also destined to furnish the materials for 

 fuel and commerce. The next period brought to light the various 

 species of monstrous reptiles ; the gigantic lizards, and others. 

 All the conditions necessary to the growth and propagation of 

 these monsters were then in existence : abundance of food, and 

 an excess of heat and moisture. The atmosphere at that time 

 — in a state of much greater impurity than it is at present — 

 could have no effect on these reptiles, accustomed as they were 

 to breathe the foul air of swamps and marshes. 



It was for the exclusive benefit of mankind that these early 

 vegetables were converted into dead matter, so as to furnish 

 the materials for coal. We are always in the habit of consi- 

 dering the material world created for no other object than that 

 of ministering to our own immediate wants and pleasures. 

 "We fancy ourselves the lords of the whole creation ; and it is, 

 therefore, natural to ask for what purpose was it that such a 

 vast number of animals were first created, and these again de- 

 stroyed — what part in the great drama of life was to be per- 

 formed by those large reptiles \ We might answer with a 

 verse from Ecclesiastes (i. 4), " One generation passeth away, 

 and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever." 

 Let us, however, be more explicit on this subject. 



In the first place, let us put the question in general terms. 

 Why have millions and millions of animals been doomed to 

 live and to die before man could make his appearance on earth % 

 The answer is very simple. The Brahmins live exclusively 

 on vegetable diet. This proves that we can exist without the 

 flesh of animals. There are many amongst us who, in imita- 

 tion of monastic discipline, abstain altogether from animal food. 

 We might thus be induced to believe that human existence is 

 independent of animals. It is easy to expose the fallacy of this 

 reasoning. We assert that those who feed upon vegetables 

 only, belong, nevertheless, to the class of carnivorous animals. 



